Patent GB-191419899-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Machines for use in Towing and Hauling.
Inventor: QUICK ALFRED ARTHUR
IPC: B66D1/48
Filed: 1914-09-17
Granted: 1915-09-16
Abstract: 19,899. Quick, A. A. Sept. 17. Constant-tension and tension-regulating winding and paying-out apparatus; driving-gear.- In apparatus for towing, hauling, and mooring ships and the like, means are provided for automatically starting the driving-means of a winding-drum when the rope tension increases and causing the driving-means to assist the load in unwinding rope from the drum and thus prevent the friction or inertia of the drum mechanism from producing any increment in the tension. The driving-means mav also be controlled so that when prolonged excessive tension occurs and a given length of rope has been paid out, the tension is restored to its normal value. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the drum 1 is loosely mounted on a stationary hollow shaft 2, and is driven from pinions 7, 8 on the main shaft 6 through gears 10, 13 on a shaft 11 carried in swinging arms 16, 17. The arms may be journaled on the framing or on the shaft 2, as shown, and are centralized by springs 19, 20, which bear on the framing. A pendent part 22 of the arm 16 is linked at 29, 30 to a member 25 fixed on the shaft 26 controlling the steam-valve or switch of the prime-mover of the drum, and it also actuates the band 23 of a brake drum loosely mounted on the driving-shaft 6. The brake drum has pawls adapted to engage a ratchet-wheel 39 on the shaft 6 when the rope is being paid out. The member 25 has cams 25<x>, 25<w>, for lifting the weighted brake arm 27, and is slotted to receive an adjustable coupling-piece 31 mounted on the link 30. This link carries a nut 32 travelling on a rod 33 which terminates in a disk with teeth 37 engaged by a peg 38 in the gear-wheel 7. The drum is normally at rest while hauling, but when the limiting tension is reached, the arms 16, 17 are forced downwards by the gear train against the action of the spring 19. The arm 22 and link 29 thereupon swing the link 30 to the left about the pivot 31<x>, thereby moving the cam 25<x> so as to release the brake 23 and simultaneously turn the shaft 26 to cause the prime-mover to drive the drum freely to pay out rope. The peg 38 meanwhile turns the rod 33 and draws the nut 32 and member 25 to the right until the weight on the lever 27 falls between the cams on the member 25 and applies the brake. Reduction of the rope tension causes the spring 19 to raise the arms 16, 17 and swing the cam 25<w> to the right, releasing the brake and turning the shaft 26 so as to reverse the prime-mover and wind in rope. The rod 33 then rotates in the opposite direction until the brake is again applied. The motion of the arms 16, 17 is damped by a dash-pot 43. In the form shown in Fig. 4, the drum 1 encloses a balanced gearing embodying two stationary gear-wheels and a nutating toothed wheel formed in two parts, as described in Specification 20,739/14. The stationary wheels have pendent oscillatory arms, the lower ends of which receive a bar bearing against the restoring-spring 50. The member 55, which actuates the switch or valve 76 of the prime-mover of the drum by means of cams and a weighted linkage 70, 73, is coupled to the arms 45 by links 57, 58. The pivot 59 passes through the arm and carries a lever 60 attached to a rod 61, the threaded end of which passes through a worm-wheel 63, chaingeared to the driving-shaft 66. Motion of the arm 45 swings the member 55 and causes the prime-mover to pay out or wind in rope, as required by the tension conditions, the member 55 being restored to its vertical position by the traverse imparted to the rod 61 by the wormwheel. Gearing with more than one speed ratio may be used for rapidly paying out the rope and winding it in slowly, and the shaft 66 may be provided with an hydraulic or band brake, as in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As the rope is paid out, its tension is increased, owing to the prime-mover being brought to rest and the drum becoming braked. Increase of tension beyond a predetermined limit may be prevented after a given length has been paid out, by so arranging that there is no further motion of the rods 33, 61 in Figs. 1 and 4 respectively. When the machine is required to operate only when a predetermined load is attained, the peg 38, Fig. 1, is removed, or the gear 68, Fig. 4, is disconnected from its shaft.